Job 36: 8-10
And if they are bound in fetters, held in cords of affliction, then He tells them their work and their transgressions- that they have acted defiantly. He also opens their ears to instruction and commands that they turn from iniquity.
Elihu ascribe righteousness to his maker, who is perfect in knowledge. He is mighty in strength and understanding yet, He despises no one .He gives justice to the oppressed and does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous. Elihu believed God permitted the righteous to be bound in fetters and held in cords of affliction if they rebelled against the word of the Lord and despised the counsel of the Most high.
This was certainty true when the children of Israel complained, and did not heed to the voice of the Lord and rebelled against His Spirit, He permitted them to be diminished, brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow. However, in His goodness, the Lord opens the children of Israel ears so they would listen to His instructions and obey His voice, and turn from their iniquities – refrain from doing things that had no eternal value, a vain thing.
Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.
But Elihu did not fully comprehend God at times permit the righteous to be afflicted so that the works of God may be displayed in their lives. “Then Joseph master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king prisoners were confined and he was there in prison. Later on Joseph told his brother as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.“ Recall in John 9:23, Jesus said neither this man nor his parents sinned but that the works of God should be revealed through him.
God is sovereign; He is in heaven and does whatever pleases him. The Lord chooses the way in which He teaches a man.” Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.” At times God uses the cord of affliction to kindly lead his children to repentance and trained them to listen and obey his voice so that they may bear fruits of righteousness. Subsequently, He uses the cord of affliction in their lives to fulfill His divine plan and purpose. “Surely He has borne our sorrows, yet we esteemed Him stricken. Smitten by God and afflicted. Jesus endured and overcame afflictions because He looked forward to the joy that was set before Him knowing He would see the labor of His soul and be satisfied.
Job 5:17: Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
Pause & think
How does one know the difference between discipline for a sin or for a purpose or correction? (Gen 39:20, Psalm 107:10-11,Daniel 3:21, Acts 12, Isaiah 53:4,11, Hebrews 12:5-11, James 5:11)
Job 36:11-12
If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasure. But if they do not obey they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
Elihu held to the retribution principle, that God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked. He believed if people adhered to the Lord instructions and repent of their sins, they would live their lives in prosperity and happiness. Elihu also pointed out if people refuse to listen to the Lord instruction and correction, by refusing to repent of their sin, they would die without the knowledge. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy one is understanding”. The fear of God empowers us to make sound decision, make good judgment and understand cause and effect in our decision-making. The fear of the Lord is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding. Those who ignore the instruction of the Lord and continue to live in sin will die without the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent. “-Who gives life. And this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3). Jesus said: the thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy; I have come that they might have life and that they may have it more abundantly. Elihu held the belief that those who trust and obey the Lord would be blessed with life and they would see many good days. The Lord has given us richly everything to enjoy and to prosper (spiritually and/or materially) and be in good health even as our soul prospers.
Psalm 34:12-14
Who is the man who desires life and love many days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceits.
Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.
Pause & think
- Are the blessings of the Lord conditional or does material wealth always signify God’s favor?
- What are the blessings of the Lord for believers in the old and new testament
- Does the Old Testament blessing still applies to believers today?
Jesus replied: Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
Job 36:13 -15
But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; they do not cry for help when he binds them. They die in youth and their life ends among the perverted persons. He delivers the poor in their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.
The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Elihu warned Job against hypocrisy because Job justified himself as righteous rather than God. (Job 32:2, Job 34) He expected Job to cry to the Lord for help and not store up wrath in his heart against the tribulation he faced.
This is similar to how the sons of disobedience respond in times of trails, they do not call upon the Lord for help but rather they stored hate in their heart, vent out in anger against unfairness, their powerlessness, and lack of control. Elihu contrast the response of the godless in times of trials to the godly who depend on the Lord –poor in spirit- and pray to him for deliverance; the Lord open their eyes to receive instructions or corrections to gain understanding and wisdom to overcome trails.
Job 15:15-16
What is man, that he could be pure? And he is born of woman, that he could be righteous? If God put no trusts in His saints and the heavens in His sight, how much less man, who is filthy, who drinks iniquity like water!
Colossians 3:5-6:Therefore put to death your members, which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.
James 5:13 : Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
Psalm 19:4 :Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
James 3:9: Do not grumble against one another, brethren, least you be condemned. Behold, the judge is standing at the door.
Pause & think
- How should we handle adversity –good or bad permitted by God?
- What are the consequences of ignoring God in decision-making, particularly during trails?
- How can you respond in faith when face with a challenge? Job 36:13, James 5:13, James 3:9
Job 36: 16-19 Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, into a broad place where there is no restraint; and what is set on your table would be full of riches. But you are filled with judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice take hold of you. Because there is wrath, beware lest He takes you away with one blow; for a large ransom would not help you avoid it. Will your riches or all the mighty forces keep you from distress?
Elihu insulated the Lord would have brought Job out of the dire distress, into a place of abundance if Job was not consume with judgment and justice impose upon of the wicked. He warned Job if he held judgment in his heart against the wicked, the wrath of God would come upon him and nothing would help him avoid it. Elihu warned Job of the sin of murmuring, complaining and blaming God for what he was going through. For He is not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness nor shall evil dwell with Him. He said God repay each man according to his work and reward man according to his ways and that God will never pervert justice. (Job 33, 8-14 34: 5-6,11-12, 17) Elihu assertion of Job’s affliction ring some level of truth, however, God permitted Job’s affliction so that Job and his friend would grow in the knowledge of God in all spiritual wisdom and understanding that they may walk worthy of the Lord and increase in the knowledge of truth as the Lord worked in Job life to keep him from sinning, and to foreshadow how men would become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
“Good and upright is the Lord
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way
The humble He guides in justice
And the humble He teaches His way
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth
To such as keep His covenant and his testimonies. “
Job 36: 20-21
Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place. Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Elihu warned Job to be aware of turning to iniquity- internal act of obstinacy against God. He associated the night with iniquity, because the sons of disobedience walk in darkness so that their deeds may not be expose by light. He said the eyes of the Lord are on the ways of man and He sees all his steps and there is neither darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves from the Lord. The Lord knows their works and He overthrows them in the night. (Job 34-20-25). Jesus said: this is the condemnation that the light has come into world but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19). God is light and in Him there is no darkness and iniquity separates us from God. Elihu counseled Job to not desire the night or turn to iniquity. “Behold, God works all these things, twice in fact, three time with a man to bring his soul back from the pit that he may be enlightened with the light of life.(Job 33:28-29)
John 8:12 :Jesus said: I am the light of the world, whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.
Romans 12:17-20 :Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved. Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written “vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.
Proverbs 4:23, Mathew 12:34 :Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks
Pause & think
- In what ways did Job and his friends grow in the knowledge of truth?
- In what ways did Job affliction keep him from sinning?
- Why are people prone to question God and is it OK to question God?
Job 36: 22-23
Behold, God is exalted by His power; who teaches like Him? Who has assigned Him His way, or who has said you have done wrong?
Elihu ascribe greatness to the Lord in power;who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. He advises Job to not question God’s method, message or ways of doing things.
Job 11:7-8 :Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven-what can you do? Deeper than Sheol-what can you know?
Isaiah 40:13-14, 45:6: Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel and who instructed Him and taught Him in the path of Justice? Who taught Him knowledge and show Him the way of understanding? To whom will you liken me and me equal and compare me that we should be alike?
May we tremble at His word and walk in obedience to the praise of His glory.
Acts of Faith
- Serve the Lord in love with a pure heart, from a good conscious and sincere faith
- Walk in love; guide your heart against all diligence, especially hate
- Hide the word of God in your heart and live it out.